What the Kenai Peninsula Fair Is
The Kenai Peninsula Fair is a three-day community fair at the Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds in Ninilchik. Its stated mission is to connect the greater Kenai Peninsula with a fun-filled, entertaining, educational and safe environment for the community to come together. The 2026 fair ran August 14 to 16. Organizer Jack Money, who has helped run the fair since 2022, says the goal is bringing people together across generations.
What Happens at the Fair
- Pig races, a fair hallmark. In 2026 each racing pig was sponsored by a political candidate or cause, and a pig representing ranked-choice voting won both Saturday afternoon races.
- A junior rodeo on Saturday with barrel racing and steer daubing, where young riders chase livestock to mark its shoulder with mustard.
- A pie eating contest for kids and adults, a magic show, face painting, food trucks and art vendors.
- Awards for crafts and produce in the exhibit hall, with over 800 community entries in agriculture, baking and crafts.
- An educational farm for kids.
Ways to Enter
Anyone in Alaska can exhibit, and exhibiting is free. Entries are organized into 21 departments:
| Livestock | Food and garden | Arts and crafts |
|---|---|---|
| Cattle, goat, swine, sheep, rabbits and cavies, poultry | Horticulture, flowers, baked goods and confections, food preservation | Sewing, needlework, quilting, ceramics and pottery, art, photography, woodworking, crafts and hobbies, fiber and fleece arts, Alaska Native arts, reduce-reuse-recycle |
Exhibitors compete in age divisions: Junior 0-8, Junior 9-12, Junior 13-17, Adult Amateur 18-59, Senior Amateur 60 and older, Commercial/Professional, and Group. Livestock from open class, 4-H or FFA must be pre-registered to reserve stall space, online through the fair's exhibits page or by email to the fair.
How It Works
- Pre-register livestock before fair week and drop off open class exhibits at the fairgrounds the Thursday before the fair opens.
- Livestock arrive on Thursday of fair week. The fair veterinarian inspects every animal, and a signed release is required before unloading.
- Judging starts Friday morning, with the exhibit hall closed until noon Friday while judges work.
- Livestock stay until 4 p.m. Sunday, and exhibitors check out Sunday afternoon.
The exact entry hours change from year to year, so check the current exhibitor information on the fair website before you go.
Rules and Awards
- Entries must have been completed within the past year and entered in the right department, with the entry form fully filled out.
- No names may be visible while an exhibit is judged, and exhibits cannot be sold during the fair.
- Horned animals are not allowed, except certain exotic breeds such as Angora or Cashmere goats and Dexter cattle, with approval.
- Exhibitors supply feed and bedding and care for their animals until they leave. Animals must be free of infectious and contagious disease.
- Awards are blue, red and white ribbons for first, second and third, a purple rosette for the division winner, a custom medal for the department champion, and a special rosette for the exhibitor with the most blue ribbons.
- A protest must be in writing with a $10 deposit, forfeited if the protest is not sustained.
4-H Junior Market League Auction
The fair has long featured a 4-H Junior Market League auction where local 4-H members sell the pigs, sheep, turkeys, chickens and steer they raised. The auction is open to everyone.
Where
Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds, 16200 Sterling Highway, Ninilchik, AK 99639. The fairgrounds also host the Ninilchik Rodeo and Beach Horse Races on the Fourth of July weekend, billed as the oldest rodeo in Alaska, and SalmonFest.
Questions
Does it cost anything to exhibit?
No. Exhibiting is free and open to anyone in Alaska.
Can kids enter?
Yes. There are three junior age divisions, from ages 0 to 17.
How do I register livestock?
Through the exhibits page at kenaipeninsulafair.com, or by email to the fair with the subject "Livestock registration."
Official Links
- Kenai Peninsula Fair
- Exhibitor information and rules
- Exhibit guide
- KBBI: 2026 fair coverage
- KBBI: Ninilchik Rodeo and Beach Horse Races 2026
- Alaska.org: Kenai Peninsula Fair
Alaska State and Community Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows: The Essentials
Alaska youth livestock shows run through a few big fairs. In 2026 the Tanana Valley State Fair in Fairbanks ran July 31 to August 9 and the Alaska State Fair in Palmer ran August 21 to September 7, per Alaska's News Source and the exhibitor guide. The Kenai Peninsula Fair in Ninilchik and the Southeast Alaska State Fair in Haines are the other main community fairs.
Livestock shows
The Palmer livestock show was September 1 to 7, with large livestock registration due August 10 and small livestock registration closing July 31. The Fairbanks 4-H and FFA market auction was Friday, August 7.
Ownership and entries
Poultry must be owned 60 days, rabbits and cavies must be ear-tattooed, and exhibitors may sell only one market animal unless auction rules allow otherwise.
Next steps
Ask your 4-H district office for your fair's exhibitor guide and deadlines.
Weights, possession dates and sale rules differ by fair.
Read the full guide: Alaska State and Community Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Kenai Peninsula District 4-H Agriculture Expo
Three-day 4-H agriculture expo in the Soldotna Sports Center ice arena with a youth livestock auction, celebrity showmanship and vendors. Held each year; the most recent dates were July 24-26, 2026.
- Ag Field Day at Ninilchik
Division of Agriculture field day run alongside the Ninilchik fair, at North Fork Road and Lescher Road near Anchor Point, with a loan officer and land specialist on hand. Held each year; the most recent date was Aug. 14, 2026.
Ninilchik, AK | Organizer: Alaska Division of Agriculture Official event details - Delta Harvest Wrap-Up
Held each year after harvest; the most recent was Nov. 20, 2025, a dinner prepared by the Delta Greely culinary class with talks on soil health, small grain cultivars and weed management.
1696 N. Clearwater Ave, Delta Junction, AK | Organizer: UAF Cooperative Extension Service Official event details - Mat-Su 4-H Mandatory Livestock Information Meeting at Palmer High
Fourth of four required spring meetings where Mat-Su 4-H and FFA families learn market-livestock rules before the fair, held in the Palmer High School ag building. Held each year; the 2026 session was March 19.
Palmer, AK | Organizer: UAF Cooperative Extension Service 4-H Mat-Su Copper River District Official event details - Mat-Su 4-H Livestock Rally Days
Large-livestock weigh-in, paperwork and small-livestock sign-ups for Mat-Su Copper River 4-H members heading to the Alaska State Fair; an alternate session ran June 5 at the Palmer High ag building. Held each year.
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.